Susceptibility of lithium-niobate modulator to high-power microwave pulses

The first measurement of the susceptibility of an off-the-shelf lithium-niobate intensity modulator to damage and disruption from high-power microwave pulses is reported. The device tested survived 1 kHz repetition rate pulses at 2.5 GHz centre frequency and 40 s width up to 200 W peak power. The results are discussed in terms of material parameters and device characteristics.